To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
Date: Wed, 08 Jul 2009 09:22:05 -0400
From: puppetpro-AT-aol.com
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] minorities & entertainment


Thanks, John


-----Original Message-----
From: Bell, John <john.bell-AT-uconn.edu>
To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org <puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org>
Sent: Tue, Jul 7, 2009 3:41 pm
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] minorities & entertainment








Eric Lott, in "Love and Theft" points out that white appropriations of black 
arts in the United States are always complicated, and involve real appreciation 
and valorization of African-American art forms (Elvis Presley for example) just 
as much as they reflect our centuries-old contorted struggles with race, racism, 
inequalities, etc.  

Some might be prone to criticize Fator for performing with a black vent dummy, 
but Fator's admiration for the Platters' classic song "Only You" is sincere, and 
clearly strikes a sympathetic chord with the audience.  

It is similarly complicated to say something about the complex intersections of 
race and culture in the work of, say, Eminem or Michael Jackson.  

Nineteenth-century blackface minstrelsy, and works like "Birth of a Nation" 
reflect racism more directly with often degrading, inaccurate, and superficial 
depictions of black folks.  But, as Alan Cook and Eric Lott both point out, even 
in these cases, performance is marked by complexity and contradiction!

Terry Fator made a point to visit the Ballard Institute on the way to a gig at 
Foxwoods Casino a few years, and is a very interesting guy!


________________________________________
From: puptcrit-bounces-AT-puptcrit.org [puptcrit-bounces-AT-puptcrit.org] On Behalf Of 
puppetpro-AT-aol.com [puppetpro-AT-aol.com]
Sent: Tuesday, July 07, 2009 12:18 PM
To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] minorities & entertainment

I think you'll have something to say about this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNJ02rxaNrs&feature=related







-Rolande


-----Original Message-----
From: Bell, John <john.bell-AT-uconn.edu>
To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org <puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org>
Sent: Tue, Jul 7, 2009 10:37 am
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] minorities & entertainment








Wow, amazing!
I think a lot could be written about the situation of African-American puppet
and mask theater and its connections (or lack of) to the rich traditions of
African puppet and mask performance.

jb
________________________________________
From: puptcrit-bounces-AT-puptcrit.org [puptcrit-bounces-AT-puptcrit.org] On Behalf Of
Alan Cook [alangregorycook-AT-msn.com]
Sent: Monday, July 06, 2009 3:51 PM
To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] minorities & entertainment

I think it is highly important that our current generation of young people have
an understanding about just how far we have come in establishing the equality of
all citizens, promised way back in 1976 in our Declaration of Independence. We
also are not finished in the pursuit of that equality.

When we fail in the pursuit of our own ideals of equality, we have to recognize
that failure.

On the Fourth of July, my next door neighbors had a big family & friends
celebration, with flags and red-white-&-blue decor. They are African-Americans,
and are very aware that the current generation needs to know about the struggles
tha made progrss possible.

In the 1960s (I've mentioned this before) I had20a puppet exhibit in Oakland CA
(homebase of the Black Panthers). The exhibit included a tribal puppet from West
Africa which  I borrowed, and Black marionette characters from Vaudeville.

Some of the Panthers complained that the puppets were "racist", but their
younger siblings saw through the politicalizations of the moment, and were glad
to see representations of Black People in an exhibit of puppets from around the
world. These puppets validated for the kids, that these kids were part of our
larger culture---that they were NOT invisible. The impact was verified when the
kids returned to schools in Oakland and San Francisco and actually wrote or gave
reports about the puppet exhibit. Show biz was an important path for progress,
for the recognition of talents from minority communities. We talked about that
as part of our guided tours.

This is just one part of the power of the puppet.


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